U.S. patent number 4,209,249 [Application Number 05/903,277] was granted by the patent office on 1980-06-24 for method and apparatus for generating duplex copies electrophotographically from simplex originals.
This patent grant is currently assigned to International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Gary A. Clark, Carl A. Queener.
United States Patent |
4,209,249 |
Clark , et al. |
June 24, 1980 |
Method and apparatus for generating duplex copies
electrophotographically from simplex originals
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for generating duplex copies
from simplex originals. A plurality of originals are sequentially
fed through the copying area of an electrophotographic copying
machine during a first pass with a predetermined number of copies
being electrophotographically made only with respect to each
original appearing at an even number in the sequence as fed to the
copying area and with the copies being made on one side of separate
sheets of copy paper withdrawn from a storage receptacle. After
collection of the sheets of copy paper from the copying area, these
sheets are replaced in the storage receptacle and the plurality of
originals again sequentially fed through the copying area of the
copying machine during a second pass. During this second pass
through the copying area, a predetermined number of
electrophotographic copies equal to the number made during the
first pass are made with respect to each original appearing at an
odd number in the sequence as fed to the copying area with the
copies being made on the side of the sheets opposite to that used
during first pass copying, these sheets having been previously
replaced in the storage receptacle and withdrawn therefrom for a
second time during copying. Through proper orientation of the
sheets replaced in the storage receptacle, duplex copies are
therefore made from adjacent originals in the sequence of originals
as fed to the copying area during each pass.
Inventors: |
Clark; Gary A. (Longmont,
CO), Queener; Carl A. (Longmont, CO) |
Assignee: |
International Business Machines
Corporation (Armonk, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
25417219 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/903,277 |
Filed: |
May 5, 1978 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
399/374;
271/9.13; 355/23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G
15/23 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G03G
15/00 (20060101); G03G 15/23 (20060101); G03G
015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;355/14,3R,23,24,25,26
;271/3.1,4,9 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Research Disclosure, "Apparatus for Producing Collated Copies From
Two Sided Originals", pp. 77-79, May 1977..
|
Primary Examiner: Moses; R. L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: O'Rourke & Harris
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for generating duplex copies from simplex original
sheets to be copied, said method comprising:
providing a plurality of original sheets each of which has a side
to be copied;
sequentially feeding said plurality of original sheets through a
copying device with said original sheets being fed therethrough by
alternating first and second groups with each said group including
different ones of said original sheets to be copied;
causing only said first group of original sheets sequentially fed
through said copying device to be copied with each of said original
sheets in said first group being copied on one side of separate
dual-sided copy material;
repeating said sequential feeding of said plurality of original
sheets through said copying device; and
causing only said second group of original sheets sequentially
refed through said copying machine to be copied with each of said
original sheets in said second group being copied on the other side
of said dual-sided copy material.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said duplex copies are
electrophotographically produced.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sheets include a
multi-paged document, and wherein said pages are sequentially fed
through said copying device with the odd and even pages
constituting said groups alternately fed through said copying
device.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said one group includes the even
pages of said document and the other of said groups includes the
odd pages of said document.
5. A method for generating duplex copies from simplex original
sheets to be copied, said method comprising:
providing a plurality of original sheets each of which has a side
to be copied;
sequentially feeding said plurality of original sheets through a
copying device with said original sheets being fed therethrough by
alternating first and second groups with each said group including
different ones of said original sheets to be copied;
causing only said first group of original sheets sequentially fed
through said copying device to be copied with each of said original
sheets of said first group being copied on one side of a
preselected plurality of sheets of separate dual-sided copy
paper;
repeating said sequential feeding of said plurality of original
sheets through said copying device; and
causing only said second group of original sheets sequentially
refed through said copying machine to be copied with each of said
original sheets of said second group being copied on the other side
of said preselected plurality of sheets of copy paper.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein each of said preselected plurality
of sheets of copy paper are collated by sets after said repeated
sequential feeding of said items through said copying device to
thereby produce a preselected plurality of duplex sets of copied
sheets.
7. A method for generating electrophotographic duplex copies from
simplex originals to be copied, said method comprising;
providing a plurality of simplex originals to be
electrophotographically copied, said originals being grouped into a
group of even pages and a group of odd pages with each group to be
copied on opposite sides of copy paper;
stacking said plurality of simplex originals in a feeding device
with said originals being oriented so that said groups of pages are
alternated when sequentially fed to a copying device;
sequentially feeding said plurality of simplex originals to a
copying device;
causing each of one group of pages of said simplex originals to be
electrophotographically copied on one side of separate sheets of
copy paper;
repeating said sequential feeding of said simplex originals to said
copying device; and
causing each of the other group of pages of said simplex originals
to be electrophotographically copied on the opposite side of said
separate sheets of copy paper.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said group of even pages of said
simplex originals are copied during said first sequential feeding
of said simplex originals to said copying device, and wherein said
group of odd pages are copied during said repeat sequential feeding
of said simplex originals to said copying device.
9. A method for generating electrophotographic duplex copies from
simplex originals to be copied, said method comprising:
providing a plurality of simplex originals to be
electrophotographically copied, said originals being grouped into a
group of even pages and a group of odd pages with each group to be
copied on opposite sides of copy paper;
stacking said plurality of simplex originals in a feeding device
with said originals being oriented so that said groups of pages are
alternated when sequentially fed to a copying device;
sequentially feeding said plurality of simplex originals to a
copying device;
causing each of said group of pages of said simplex originals to be
electrophotographically copied on one side of separate sheets of
copy paper withdrawn from a storage receptable during copying of
said one group of pages;
collecting said sheets of copy paper and returning said sheets to
said storage receptacle after copying of said one group of
pages;
repeating said sequential feeding of said simplex originals to said
copying device; and
causing each of the other group of pages of said simplex originals
to be electrophotographically copied on the opposite side of said
sheets of copy paper during said refeeding of said simplex
originals through said copying device.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said sheets of copy paper are
collected and placed in storage receptacles so that adjacent even
and odd pages appear at the opposite sides of said produced duplex
copies.
11. A method for generating electrophotographic duplex copies from
simplex originals to be copied, said method comprising:
providing a plurality of simplex originals to be
electrophotographically copied, said originals being grouped into a
group of even pages and a group of odd pages with each group to be
copied on opposite sides of copy paper;
stacking said plurality of simplex originals in a feeding device
with said originals being oriented so that said groups of pages are
alternated when sequentially fed to a copying device;
sequentially feeding said plurality of simplex originals to a
copying device;
causing each of said group of even pages to be
electrophotographically copied on one side of a preselected
plurality of separate sheets of copy paper;
repeating said sequential feeding of said simplex originals to said
copying device;
causing each of said group of odd pages to be
electrophotographically copied on the opposite side of each of said
preselected plurality of separate sheets of copy paper; and
collating said sheets of copy paper after copying on both sides to
produce a preselected number of sets of duplex copies.
12. A method for generating duplex copies electrophotographically
from simplex originals to be copied, said method comprising:
providing a plurality of simplex originals to be copied, said
originals being grouped into a group of even pages and a group of
odd pages with each group to be copied on opposite sides of copy
paper;
stacking said plurality of simplex originals in a feeding device
with said originals being oriented so that said group of pages are
alternately sequentially fed from the feeding device;
providing a storage receptacle with copy paper;
feeding said simplex originals from the feeding device to an
electrophotographic copying machine;
electrophotographically copying only the pages of one group of
simplex originals fed from said feeding device with each of the
pages of said one group being copied on a predetermined number of
separate sheets of copy paper withdrawn from said storage
receptacle;
collecting the sheets of copy paper having the pages of said one
group copied thereon and returning the same to said storage
receptacle for copying on the other side of each of said
sheets;
refeeding said simplex originals from the feeding device to said
copying machine;
electrophotographically copying the pages of the other group of
simplex originals fed from said feeding device with each of the
pages of the other group being copied on the opposite side of said
predetermined number of separate sheets withdrawn from said storage
receptacle; and
collating said sheets of copy paper twice withdrawn from said
storage receptacle to produce a predetermined number of sets of
duplex copies.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first of said simplex
originals and every other one thereafter fed to said copying device
is removed from the copying device without copying during the first
sequential feeding of originals from said feeding device to said
copying device, and wherein the second of said simplex originals
and every other one thereafter fed to said copying device is
removed from the copying device without copying during refeeding of
said originals from said feeding device to said copying device.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said first of said simplex
originals and every other one thereafter are odd pages, and wherein
said second of said simplex originals and every other one
thereafter are even pages.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein each group of said predetermined
number of sheets of copy paper are separately collected, after the
pages of said first group have been copied, rearwardly to forwardly
in different bins.
16. A device for generating duplex copies from simplex originals,
said device comprising:
electrophotographic copying means having a copying area;
feeding means for twice sequentially feeding a plurality of
originals through said copying area;
storage receptacle means for storing sheets of copy paper;
means for supplying said sheets of copy paper from said storage
receptacle means to said copying area;
means for collecting said sheets of copy paper after copying has
occurred at said copying area; and
control means for causing, during a first feed of originals through
said copying area, first alternate ones of said originals to be
copied on one side of separate sheets of said copy paper, and
causing, during a second feed of originals through said copying
area, second alternate ones of said originals different from said
first alternate ones to be copied on the other side of said
separate sheets of said copy paper when replaced in said storage
receptacle means before said second feed of said second originals
through said copying area.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein said feeding means is an
automatic feeding means for sequentially feeding each of said
originals through said copying area of said copying means.
18. The device of claim 16 wherein said collecting means includes a
plurality of bins for collecting said sheets of copy paper from
said copying area in a preselected manner.
19. The device of claim 16 wherein said control means includes a
plurality of logic circuits.
20. A device for generating duplex copies from simplex originals,
said device comprising:
electrophotographic copying means having a copying area;
feeding means for twice sequentially feeding a plurality of
originals through said copying area;
storage receptacle means for storing sheets of copy paper;
means for supplying said sheets of copy paper from said storage
receptacle means to said copying area;
means for collecting said sheets of copy paper after copying has
occurred at said copying area; and
control means including a plurality of logic gates for causing a
predetermined number of copies of each of first alternate ones of
said originals to be made on one side of separate sheets of said
copy paper during a first feed of said originals through said
copying area, and causing copying of second alternate ones of said
originals different from said first alternate ones on the opposite
side of said predetermined number of copies during a second feed of
said originals through said copying area when said copy paper is
replaced in said storage receptacle before said second feed of said
originals through said copying area.
21. The device of claim 20 wherein said collecting means includes a
plurality of bins, and wherein said control means causes such copy
paper to be collected by duplex sets in said bins.
22. A control system for a copying machine having feeding and
collating mechanisms and producing duplex copies from simplex
originals at a copying area, said control system comprising:
feeding mechanism control means for controlling feeding of
originals by said feeding mechanism through the copying area of
said copying machine;
copy mechanism control means for controlling copying of originals
fed by said feeding mechanism to the copying area of said copying
machine;
collating mechanism control means for controlling collection of
sheets of copy paper from said copying area of said copying
machine;
start means for causing said feeding mechanism to sequentially feed
each of said originals through said copying means; and
logic means connected with said copy mechanism control means and
said feeding mechanism control means for causing a first group,
consisting of every other original, in the sequence fed to the
copying area from said feeding mechanism, to be copied on one side
of a predetermined plural number of sheets of copy paper during a
first sequential feed of said originals to said copying area, and
causing a second group, consisting of every other original in
sequence and different from the originals of said first group, to
be copied on the other side of said predetermined plural number of
sheets of copy paper during a second pass of said originals through
said copying area, said logic means also being connected with said
collating control means to cause collection of said sheets of copy
paper from said copying area during each sequential feed of
originals through said copying area.
23. The control system of claim 22 wherein said logic means
includes gate means connected to said feeding mechanism control
means, copy mechanism control means, and collating mechanism
control means.
24. The control system of claim 22 wherein said collecting means
includes a plurality of bins, and wherein said logic means causes
said predetermined number of copies of said copy paper to be
inserted in a predetermined order in said bins.
25. The control system of claim 24 wherein said plurality of bins
extend rearwardly from a predetermined forward position, and
wherein said logic means causes said predetermined number of sheets
of copy paper to be collected rearwardly to forwardly in said bins
during said first sequential feeding of said originals through said
copying area.
26. The control system of claim 24 wherein said logic means causes
said preselected number of sheets of said copy paper to be collated
into sets of duplex copies during said second sequential feeding of
said originals through said copying area.
27. The control system of claim 23 wherein said logic means causes
said predetermined number of sheets of said copy paper to be
stacked during said second sequential feeding of said original
through said copying area.
28. The control system of claim 23 wherein said logic means causes
a message indication to be displayed after said first sequencing of
said originals through said copying area.
29. A control system for an electrophotographic copying machine
having feeding and collating mechanisms and producing duplex copies
from simplex original documents at a copying area, said control
system comprising:
document feeding control logic means for causing, during each pass,
sequential feeding of all original documents at said feeding
mechanism to and from the copying area of said copying machine;
copier control logic means for controlling copying of documents at
said copying area on copy paper withdrawn from a copy paper storage
receptacle;
collating control logic means for controlling collection of said
copy paper from said copying area after copying has occurred;
and
a first plurality of logic gate means connected with said document
feeding control logic means and said copier control means for
controlling copying to cause, during a first pass of documents
through said copying area, copying on a predetermined number of
separate sheets of copy paper only those documents appearing at an
even number in the sequence, and causing, during a second pass of
documents through said copying area, copying on the opposite side
of said separate sheets of copy paper when replaced in said storage
receptacle to be withdrawn therefrom, only those documents
appearing at an odd number in the sequence; and
a second plurality of logic gate means connected with said collator
control logic means for controlling the manner of collecting of
said sheets of copy paper from said copying area after copying has
occurred.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to copy generation, and, more particularly,
relates to electrophotographically generating duplex copies from
simplex orginals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Reproduction, or copying, systems have been known and utilized for
some time. Among the more successful of such systems is that
accomplished electrophotographically, and many types of machines
and methods for accomplishing the desired end have been proposed
and/or utilized.
As would be expected, copying machines, including auxiliary devices
used on connection therewith or as a part thereof, have undergone
many refinements and, at least in some cases, while such
refinements have greatly increased the usefulness of such machines,
these refinements have also increased costs.
Included in the many refinements to copying machines that have
heretofore been suggested or have occurred, is the development of
auxiliary devices for feeding originals to the copying area of the
copy machine, including automatic feeding, and development of
collating, or collecting, devices to receive and handle the copy
sheets forwarded from the copying area after copying has occurred.
Document feeding devices are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,552,739; 3,556,511; 3,556,512; 3,556,513; 3,565,420; 3,630,515;
and 3,815,896, while copy collecting devices are shown, again by
way of example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,460,824 and 3,841,754.
Also included in the many refinements in copying machines that have
heretofore been suggested or have occurred is development in such
machines of the capability to make duplex copies (i.e., to copy on
both sides of a sheet of copy paper). This is important not only
where exact copying is desired of duplex original documents but it
is also important in other respects as, for example, in saving
paper costs and/or filing space. Duplex copying is shown, for
example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,615,129; 3,645,615 and 3,841,754, with
the latter including a feeding mechanism and a sorting, or
collecting device in conjunction therewith.
Duplex copying from simplex originals can normally be accomplished
today on many different types of copying machines. The degree of
difficulty encountered, as well as the required handling of
originals and/or copies, depends, however, at least in part, upon
the degree of sophistication of the operator.
For example, assuming that an operator is not sophisticated in copy
machine operation, but has available a copy machine with a
manual/automatic feeding mechanism and a collator, the operator can
produce duplex sets of copies from a simplex original set by:
selecting the number of copies to be made; feeding the first
original into the copying area and making the preselected number of
copies; removing the copies from the collator and placing them in
the copy paper storage tray; feeding the second original into the
copying area and making the preselected number of copies each of
which is copied on the opposite side of the copies made of the
first original; removing the duplex copies from the collator;
feeding the third original into the copying area and making the
preselected number of copies; removing the copies from the collator
and placing them in the copy paper storage tray; feeding the fourth
original into the copying area and making the preselected number of
copies again upon the side of the copy paper opposite to that of
the copies made of the third original; removing these duplex copies
from the collator; and then repeating the same process for each of
the originals remaining. After copying is completed, the copies are
hand collated into the duplex copy sets.
If the operator is more sophisticated, the task can be accomplished
with less difficulty. For example, the operator can first hand sort
the originals into two piles one of which includes the even
numbered documents and the other of which includes the odd numbered
documents, after which copying can be carried out by: sequentially
copying the even numbered documents with the preselected number of
copies of each being made on one side of separate sheets of copy
paper; removing the copy paper from the collator and replacing the
copy paper in the copy paper storage tray; selecting the collator
mode (if available); and sequentially copying the odd numbered
documents on the opposite side of the copy paper in the storage
tray. If the collate mode is selected, the duplex copies can then
be removed in sets from the collator, but the operator must still
hand sort the originals to replace them in the proper order.
It is also well known that at least some commonly available
commercial copying machines can provide automatic generation of
duplex copies, but the required components and/or circuitry
involved is complicated and results in costs for such units that
are higher than might be justified for some users. In addition, in
at least some of these units, auxiliary paper trays must be
provided to achieve the duplexing operation and the copy paper must
be removed therefrom before the duplexing operation is commenced,
and/or if an odd number of documents are to be duplexed, procedures
must be taken to assure removal of the last odd page from the
collator or other collecting device.
Thus, while copying machines and methods have been suggested and/or
utilized for generating duplex copies from simplex originals, the
now known devices and methods have not proved to be entirely
satisfactory, at least for all purposes, in that such devices and
methods have either required extensive handling of originals and/or
copies or have been of higher cost than justified for some
users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides an improved method and system for
generating duplex copies from simplex originals which combines
simplicity and ease of operation without unduly increasing the cost
of generating the duplex copies or equipment that must be used in
association therewith. The invention includes twice feeding
originals through a copying area and causing a first group,
consisting of alternative ones of the originals, to be copied on
one side of copy paper during the first pass and causing a second
group consisting of the remaining alternate ones of said originals,
to be copied on the other side of the copy paper during the second
pass to thus generate the duplex copies.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved
method and apparatus for generating duplex copies.
It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved
method and apparatus for generating duplex copies that is
relatively simple yet enables ease of operation without undue
cost.
It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved
method and apparatus for copying different alternate ones of
originals sequentially placed through a copying area of a copying
machine to generate duplex copies.
With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent to
one skilled in the art as the description proceeds, this invention
resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of
parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly
defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such
changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention
are meant to be included as come within the scope of the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings illustrate a complete embodiment of the
invention according to the best mode so far devised for the
practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrophotographic copying
machine having this invention incorporated therein;
FIG. 2 is a partial disassembled view of the copying machine shown
in FIG. 1 to illustrate features thereof;
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation showing the path of copy paper
from the storage tray through the copying area to the collator;
FIG. 4 is a side view with housing partially removed showing the
automatic document feeding mechanism;
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view with housing partially removed of
the automatic document feeding mechanism shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the movable portion, or
deflector mechanism, of the collator;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the bottom side of the movable
portion of the collator shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a partial side view illustrating the bins of the collator
as used in conjunction with the movable portion;
FIG. 9 is an electrical block and schematic diagram of the logic
control system of this invention for enabling duplex copy
generation; and
FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, electrophotographic copying machine
14, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, has this invention incorporated
therein. As shown, copy machine 14 typically includes a document
feeding mechanism 16, a copying area 18 having copying mechanism 19
thereat (see FIG. 2), a collector, or collator, 20, one or more
copy paper receptacles, or trays, 22 and 23, a control panel 25 and
a housing 27 enclosing the machine.
As is conventional, housing 27 includes a plurality of removable
access panels and/or doors to permit access to the interior of the
machine as is needed.
As is also conventional, control panel 25 has a plurality of
switches and indicators thereon, such as a power on/off switch 30,
a start print switch 32, a copy number selection switch 34, and
various indicators 36 utilized in conjunction with the switches on
the panel. In addition, for this invention, a duplex selection
switch 40 and a second pass switch 42 may be provided on the
control panel (or in the paper tray area as switch 44), as is a
special message indicator 45 to instruct the operator at the end of
the first pass of the duplexing operation.
Copying area 18 of the copy machine includes a rotatable drum 47
and associated stations for carrying out the electrophotographic
copying on copy paper supplied from one of the storage trays 22 and
23 as is well known in the art. As indicated in FIG. 3, the copy
paper is withdrawn from the storage tray and fed past drum 47 at
the copying area 18 with the copy paper then being conveyed between
fuser rollers 49 and 50 to collator 20.
Copy machines of this general type are well known and therefore
have been detailed herein only to the extent necessary to better
explain the invention incorporated therein.
As shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5, an automatic document feeding
mechanism 16 is preferably provided. Mechanism 16 includes a
document tray 54 for storage, or stacking, of originals thereon to
be copied. As shown, tray 54 has a fixed front reference edge 55
and a movable rear reference 56 provided thereon. Each original is
sequentially fed by paper feed roll 58 past automatic document feed
gate 60 and nip rolls 62 to a gate 64 where each original is
sequentially introduced into the copying area 18, and more
particularly, positioned on glass platen 66 thereat by means of
belt 68 mounted on rollers 70. As shown in FIG. 5, motor 72 drives
the paper feed rolls and nip rolls while solenoid 74 is provided to
lift the paper feed roll as necessary. Exit gate (and reference
edge) 76 is also provided for removal of each original from the
glass platen, or document glass, 66 (and hence from the copying
area).
As shown in FIGS. 6 through 8, collator 20 includes a movable
deflector portion, or mechanism, 80 for receiving the sheets of
copy paper from the copying area and directing the sheets to
collecting area 82 which includes a plurality of bins which extend
from the first bin 83 nearest the copy machine rearwardly to the
last bin 84 positioned most remote from the copying machine.
Motor 87 (see FIG. 7) drives rollers 89 through gears 90, 91 and
92, the latter of which is mounted on rotatable shaft 93 having
rollers 89 also mounted thereon. As shown in FIG. 6, rollers 95 are
mounted on shafts 97 the opposite ends of each of which are mounted
in biased mounting plates 99. The copy paper is received between
rollers 89 and 95 with the paper thereon being conveyed to the
proper bin at collating area 82. As also indicated in FIGS. 6
through 8, the copy paper passes between rollers 102 and 103 to
curved plates 104 and 105 of the deflector mechanism before
reaching rollers 89 and 95. A switch 107 is provided in the path of
the copy paper between the curved plates 104 and 105. This switch
senses paper presence and also can detect jams.
Deflector mechanism 80 is moved by motor 110 through gears 112,
113, 114, 115, and 116, as shown in FIG. 7, with gear 116 engaging
a flat geared surface 118 on frame 119 of the copying machine (as
shown in FIG. 6). By this arrangement, the collator can be
incremented from bin to bin (as indicated by FIG. 8).
As also shown in FIG. 7, a torque spring 122 is wound about shaft
124 (having gear 115 mounted thereon). This torque spring is used
to drive the deflector mechanism from bin 84 to bin 83 (i.e., from
the most rearward bin to the nearest bin) when movement in this
direction is needed. Solenoid 128 controls operator dog 130 to
release ratchet 132 to permit movement of the deflector mechanism
by the torque spring. In addition, as is also shown in FIG. 6,
switch 134 is provided to ascertain the positioning of the
deflector mechanism with respect to each bin of the collecting area
by providing a count to the copy machine logic system.
A block and logic schematic diagram of the control system 136 of
this invention, is shown in FIG. 9. As shown, the control system
includes a copier control logic unit 138 connected with copier
mechanism 19 to control operation thereof, an automatic document
feed (ADF) control logic unit 140 connected with automatic document
feeding (ADF) mechanism 16 to control operation thereof, and a
collator control logic unit 142 connected with collator mechanism
20 to control the operation thereof.
Logic circuitry is connected with each of these control units as
indicated in FIG. 9. As shown, the logic circuitry includes AND
gates 146 and 147 each of which receives a plurality of inputs as
indicated; AND gate 152 which is connected at one input to OR gate
153 and has its output connected to the set input of flip-flop 154,
the Q output of which is connected to energize the special message
light 155 at the control panel that is, at indicator 45 of control
panel 25 of the copy machine, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; AND gate
156 which is connected at one input to OR gate 157 and has its
output connected to the reset input of flip-flop 158, the Q output
of which indicates a second pass of the original documents during
the duplexing operation; AND gate 160 the output of which is
connected with OR gate 162; OR gates 164 and 165 which along with
OR gate 162 have their outputs connected with the automatic
document feed control logic unit 140; and AND gate 167 which has
its output connected to the collator control logic circuit 142.
The logic circuitry, as also shown in FIG. 9, also includes
circuitry for establishing the collate or stacking mode for the
duplex sets of copies. This circuitry includes a plurality of AND
gates 170, 171, 172, and 173 each of which has a plurality of
indicated inputs with the outputs of AND gates 170 and 171 being
connected through OR gate 175 to the collator control logic circuit
unit 142 and the outputs of AND gates 172 and 173 being connected
through OR gate 176 to collator control logic unit 142.
Functioning of this control system is illustrated by the flow
diagram of FIG. 10. As indicated, at AND gate 146 a determination
is made as to whether the simplex input/duplex output is selected,
whether the second pass latch is off, whether the automatic
document feed hopper is stocked and whether the machine has
started. If the answer is "yes" to all of the foregoing, then an
output is coupled from AND gate 146 to the collator control logic
unit 142 to cause the collator to be sent to the most remote bin,
i.e., bin 84. In addition, a signal is sent to the automatic
document feed control logic unit 140 to cause one original to be
fed across the glass platen 66 to the exit tray (i.e., the first
original is not copied but instead is sent across the copying area
without the occurrence of copying). It can be seen from FIG. 9 that
the output of AND gate 146 is coupled through OR gate 165 to cause
the original to be fed from the input hopper to the output
tray.
If the automatic document feed input hopper is not empty, an output
from the automatic document feed control logic unit 140 is coupled
through AND gate 160 and OR gate 162 to cause feeding of the next
original in the sequence onto the glass platen 66. At this time, a
signal from ADF control logic unit 140 is coupled to the copier
control logic unit 138 to cause the requested number of copies to
be made. When the required number of copies have been made, an
output from the copier control logic unit 138 is coupled to the
automatic document feed control logic unit 140 through OR gate 164
to cause the original then on the glass platen 66 to be exited into
the exit tray.
If the automatic document feed input hopper is not then empty, a
signal is coupled through AND gate 167 to the collator control
logic unit 142 to cause the deflector mechanism to be decremented,
that is, to be moved to the next bin. After this has occurred, the
next original is fed across the glass to the exit tray (as
indicated in the flow diagram of FIG. 10) and hence the next
original (an odd numbered copy in the sequence) is not copied but
is passed across the tray. The steps are then repeated for the next
original (an even numbered original) that is moved onto the glass
platen so that copies are made.
If the hopper is not yet empty, the collator control logic unit 142
causes the deflector mechanism to be decremented to the next bin
and the process is continued with copying of even numbered
documents and passing odd numbered documents until such time as the
hopper is indicated to be empty. At this point, an output is
coupled to display message A on the instrument panel (as by
lighting the same). Message A can, for example, instruct the
operator to remove the copies from the collator and position them
as shown in a paper drawer or tray, after which the operator is
further instructed to then press the second pass button, close the
drawer, remove the originals from the automatic document feed exit
tray and place them in the automatic document feed input hopper,
and then press the start print button.
The first pass having now been completed, the second pass of the
documents is commenced. As indicated in the flow diagram of FIG.
10, the first test is whether the second pass button has been
pressed. If so, the Q output from flip-flop 158 is provided for
indicating second pass and is coupled as one input to AND gate 147.
If the collator is empty, if the automatic document feeding
mechanism is not empty, and if the start switch is on, then an
output is coupled from AND gate 147 to turn off the message
display. This output is also coupled to the collator control logic
unit 142 to cause the deflector mechanism of the collator to be
moved to the bin nearest the copy machine (that is, to bin 83). At
this time, the mode selected determines whether the collator will
collate the duplex copies or stack the same (see FIG. 9).
The first original is then fed onto the glass platen 66 (due to the
signal through AND gate 160 and OR gate 162 to the automatic
document feed control logic unit 140) and the requested number of
copies are made in the same manner as described hereinabove with
respect to the first pass.
After these copies are made, if the automatic document feed
mechanism input hopper is not then empty, the next original (an
even numbered original) is caused to be moved onto and off of the
glass platen in the same manner that the first original was moved
onto and off the glass in the first pass (i.e., the second original
rather than the first and each even numbered original thereafter is
moved across the glass without copying during the second pass). If
the ADF input hopper is then not yet empty, the procedure is then
repeated with each succeeding odd numbered original being moved
onto the glass and copied and each succeeding even numbered
original being passed without copying.
After all of the originals have been removed from the automatic
document feeding input hopper, an indication of the hopper being
empty appears and the second pass is completed. As indicated in
FIG. 10, the copying job is then complete. The duplex copies can
then be removed from the collator and are either collated into sets
or stacked depending upon the mode selected.
In operation, the operator would select the duplex button and the
number of copies desired before copying is commenced. The copying
process is then initiated by "gang feeding" all of the originals
into the automatic document feeding mechanism which works in an
automatic mode. Each original is in its natural order (for example,
1 through 7 if there are 7 originals). As shown above, no copies
are made of the odd numbered originals during the first pass
through the automatic document feeding mechanism (they are shuttled
across the glass platen and out of the copying area without making
any copies because of the special machine programming associated
with the duplex selection). The copying machine does make, however,
the appropriate number of copies of each of the even numbered
originals during this first pass as "side two" copies. The machine
logic is programmed to stack the copies in reverse order from
normal in the collator when the duplex mode has been selected and
first pass copies are being generated. Thus, copies of original
number 6 are stacked in bin 84 of the collator and copies of the
original number 4 are stacked in the adjacent bin of the collator,
etc. where seven originals are being copied.
After all the originals have passed through the automatic document
feed mechanism, the operator removes the copies (of the even
numbered originals) and places them in their proper orientation
back into the same paper tray used in making these copies. The job
is completed, including collating the copies (if the collate mode
is selected) by again passing the originals through automatic
document feeding mechanism. During this second pass, "side one"
copies are made only of the odd numbered originals and the even
numbered originals are merely shuttled across the glass platen
without making copies (due to the machine logic associated with
this invention).
While not specifically described, it is to be realized that
modifications of the described embodiment might be made as, for
example, for duplex printing by printing each even numbered page in
sequence for each duplicate set to be produced and then printing
each odd numbered page in sequence for each duplicate set to be
produced on the opposite side of each even numbered page. This
invention can be readily incorporated into both new and existing
equipment, and particularly into existing equipment with either
automatic document feeding or semi-automatic document feeding.
As can be appreciated from the foregoing, the method and apparatus
of this invention requires little handling of originals and/or
copies thereof by an operator and simplifies the required mental
steps which must be taken by such an operator. In addition, little
additional cost is encountered in order to implement the
invention.
It should also be understood that control exercised over the
machine components in the performance of the method of this
invention can be obtained through the provision of a programmed
computer or microprocessor following the dictates of FIG. 10. An
exemplary copier, including a computer, is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,086,658, issued Apr. 25, 1978, and incorporated herein by
reference. Preparation of appropriate programming is well within
the skill of the art as represented by "MICROPROGRAMMING,
PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES" by Samir S. Husson, published by
Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1970, and by the many
publications of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers.
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